FIFA is considering trebling to about £135M ($208M) "the cash pool that will be distributed to clubs for releasing players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in a bid to ease opposition to staging the tournament during the winter," according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. Clubs shared a total of $70M in FIFA payments "for releasing 736 players for the finals in Brazil last summer, but that figure could swell dramatically for Qatar." Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke said that "the world governing body would not pay compensation to clubs and leagues unhappy about plans to play the tournament in November and December." Talks have taken place between FIFA and the European Club Association "about agreeing an alternative means of compensation" as FIFA seeks to avoid any potential conflict. A FIFA spokesperson said that "it was in talks about the cash pool for clubs for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and hoped to reach an agreement soon, but could not divulge specific details." The Times "was still waiting to hear back from the ECA" Wednesday night. The ECA "is due to discuss the Qatar issue further at its next executive board meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday" (LONDON TIMES, 2/26).
